This blog is dedicated to all true Storm Riders who, through it all, proclaim the name of Jesus and reverence his word. This blog will talk about our personal walk with Christ and will also examine current events and important life lessons. We plan to update on a weekly basis but please feel free to leave comments and suggestions. We must all learn to share what we know and help each other grow in Christ. God Bless!
We give all honor and praise to our Mighty God, who is called by many names(JEHOVAH, YAHWEH, I AM, ELOHIM, JEHOVAH-JIREH, JEHOVAH-ROPHE, JEHOVAH-NISSI, JEHOVAH-M'KADDESH, YESHUA, IMMANUEL, LORD, MASTER, ALMIGHTY.......). He is our rock, our shield, our strong tower, our rest, our healer, our provider, our protector and constant help. We lift up our hands to you and we say thank you for all your grace and mercy this year. You have kept us and never forsaken us in 2009. You were there holding our hand every step of the way. Jesus you are our brother and best friend. You took all our concerns and prayers to the Father and interceded on our behalf. You answered our prayers and you delivered us in our time of trouble. There is no one like you. You are the Alpha and Omega, King of Kings and Lord of Lords! The whole earth bows down before you. You are our light and source of power. We could not do it without you. Thank you, thank you Jesus! We have made it another year. Thank you for allowing us to grow. Thank you for purging all the negative stuff inside of us. Thank you for letting us know you more. Thank you for the many blessings, tests, trails and tribulations in our lives; because it only brought you and you alone glory through our testimonies. What a mighty God we serve. A God that continues to love us pass our transgressions. Thank you Lord for all you have done for us. And we pray that in this New Year you will continue to do a mighty work in us. We pray that many souls and lives will be saved in your holy and precious name. To God be the Glory. In Jesus' name. AMEN.
Sometimes when we make a mess of our lives, or we feel that we have transgressed against the Lord; we often feel like there is no hope. That we are a lost cause, that we have ruined any chances of coming into the fullness of what God has for us. Sometimes when I make mistakes in my walk with God, I tend to have a tiny pity party (I try not to do this but it lasts for about a minute). My pity party usually consists of convincing myself that I have fallen so far from His grace that there might be a slim chance for me to get back. Other times it feels like I have a chart with God and every time I mess up I wonder if it is the last straw; maybe God is done with me this time (I know that these thoughts are from the enemy and pray to God that they do not penetrate into my soul). There is a looming fear that everything God has for you, will be taken away. That you might not enter into the fullness of what He has for you in all aspects of your life. But then I remember that I serve an awesome, forgiving and loving God. God is not man, and often times we base our reactions to God on what we have experienced with other human beings. We think that there is a limit because we have limits ourselves, but God is not man and His love, grace and mercy knows no limits. With God, there is always hope. The Bible says in Colossians 1:27 “To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory”. This is the hope we must grab a hold of, this is the hope that we can believe in. What we must realize is that the enemy will try to sow seeds of doubt and fear into our lives when we feel that we have completely messed up. He knows just the right time to show up and kick us when we’re down. But we have hope, and that is Christ in us! God will never give up on us. He loves us too much and He has big plans for our lives.
This is not ordinary hope, this is a supernatural, change your life kind of hope. Christ in us, the hope of glory is what the Bible says and I don’t need to tell you that Christ is not ordinary! We never have to feel hopeless; we never have to feel lost. We have a mighty hope available to us. Romans 5:5 says, “And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.” That means that this hope will never fail; that if we hope in Christ that He will always come through. Some people place their hope in money, politicians/political systems, people, astrology, luck and many other things. But those things will always fail when it comes to hope. They do not last and in cases of astrology and luck they don’t even exists/have a strong foundation. We have a hope that will never make us ashamed. When you feel down and the enemy tells you that there is no hope that God is done with you that you might as well forget about being in His presence; you can say with all authority that Christ in you is your hope, that He will work it out that you may not see Him but He is always there giving you more grace, more mercy, more love and building an indestructible hope in you!
Hold on to hope, never loose sight of it. God has given us a fail-proof hope. Nothing can separate us from the love of God. When we fall, He sees and understands. He is our biggest cheerleader telling us to get up and keep running the race, keep pressing towards the mark of the high calling. He tells us to put our hope in Him. Never feel hopeless! Never feel like God will let you go. He loves you and has called you and He will do a mighty work in you. You always have hope!
My sister and I this past week were talking about Joseph the husband of the virgin Mary. We were reading Matthew 1: 18-20. which reads:
18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. 19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly. 20 But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.
After reading this passage I really thought about the part when it says Joseph was a "just man, and not wanting to make her a public example." Now back in those days if you where found committing adultery you would be condemned and stoned in public. Joseph had every right to publicly humiliate and express his disapproval of the woman that he was going to marry.
Because he was a "just man" he did not. Even though he was still going to do it behind close doors, he was not going to shame Mary. Is it only because he was "just" or was there something about Mary?
In scripture, Mary was described as being "highly favored....... blessed among women," by the angel Gabriel in Luke 1:28. Why did God pick her above all the other women born in her time or before her? Why did God patiently wait for her to be born? Moreover, why did Joseph have respect for her, not to shame or ridicule her? I believe it is because Mary is a Model P31.
A Model p31 is Proverbs 31 better known as the Virtuous Woman/Wife. Starting at verse 10 it describes what type of characteristics in a woman that a man should be looking for. I am pretty sure God saw all these attributes in Mary and so did Joseph. Now we might in a later post go in depth about a virtuous woman but for now take the time to read the passage.
Mary must have had favor in the sight of both man and the Lord. She was a hard worker, humble, obedient, loving, carried herself well, modest, generous, kind, giving and a God fearing woman. Joseph saw all these things in Mary and the angel of the Lord reassured him of that. Mary is a great example of one of the many women in the Bible that we as young single women are able to look to as role models. Joseph is also a good example to young single men of how to be "just" and spot a model P31 when he sees one.
This really reminded me how it is important to look to the word of God to instruct you how to live your life justly and virtuously for Him. When you do this others will notice and God will be gloried in your life. You will also receive the many promises and blessing He has in store for you.
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Matthew 6:33
Praise the Lord! We have written a hundred posts. This blog has been a blessing to us and has ministered to many including ourselves. We are so grateful for everyone's support and prayers. We pray that the Lord will allow us to write 100 more posts. Please continue to give us all your support, love and prayers. And Remember Keep Riding the Storm!
